Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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Stonefly Genus Leuctra (Needleflies)
Ernest Schwiebert notes in Matching the Hatch that trout are very fond of these uncommon stoneflies when they are available.
Genus Range
Start a Discussion of Leuctra
References
- Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.
Stonefly Genus Leuctra (Needleflies)
Taxonomy
Species in Leuctra
Leuctra carolinensisCarolina Needleflies
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Leuctra duplicataAtlantic Needleflies
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Leuctra ferrugineaEastern Needleflies
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Leuctra mariaNortheastern Needleflies
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Leuctra mohaBlackwater Needleflies
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Leuctra sibleyiBrook Needleflies
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Leuctra tenellaBroad-lobed Needleflies
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Leuctra trilobaThree-lobed Needleflies
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Leuctra variabilisVariable Needleflies
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Species in Leuctra: Leuctra carolinensis, Leuctra duplicata, Leuctra ferruginea, Leuctra maria, Leuctra moha, Leuctra sibleyi, Leuctra tenella, Leuctra triloba, Leuctra variabilis
17 species (Leuctra alabama, Leuctra alexanderi, Leuctra alta, Leuctra baddecka, Leuctra biloba, Leuctra cottaquilla, Leuctra crossi, Leuctra grandis, Leuctra laura, Leuctra mitchellensis, Leuctra monticola, Leuctra nephophila, Leuctra paleo, Leuctra rickeri, Leuctra szczytkoi, Leuctra tenius, and Leuctra truncata) aren't included.